Amanda Seyfried has joined Ramy Youssef and Sharon Stone in Martha & Muhammad, an upcoming comedy from A24. Youssef will write, direct and star in the film, marking his feature directorial debut. The project centres on an unconventional relationship and is expected to explore cultural differences, religion and social class. Seyfried’s casting adds another prominent name to the film, although details of her character remain undisclosed.
A24 is financing the film, with Youssef producing through his Cairo Cowboy banner. Production is expected to take place in New York, but the filmmakers have yet to announce a release date or confirm further details about the cast and story.
Martha & Muhammad follows a wealthy, white, widowed New York socialite who develops an unexpected relationship with a much younger Muslim man. Stone is attached to star alongside Youssef, but the filmmakers have not confirmed which characters either actor will portray. The premise is expected to address questions surrounding religion, immigration and class, as well as the complications arising from a significant age gap.
Seyfried’s role has not been revealed, leaving her character’s place in the central relationship unclear. Further casting announcements and plot details are also awaited.
The project brings Youssef back to themes that have featured prominently in his previous work. His comedy frequently examines identity, faith and the contradictions of contemporary life, using uncomfortable social situations to explore differences in culture and perspective. Martha & Muhammad gives him an opportunity to develop these themes within a feature-length story, with A24 backing the production.
Youssef is best known for creating and starring in Ramy, the comedy-drama series about a young Muslim-American man navigating faith, family and relationships. The series earned him a Golden Globe Award and a Peabody Award, alongside multiple Emmy nominations. His work often draws humour from the tensions between personal beliefs, family expectations and the realities of contemporary life.
His directing credits also include episodes of The Bear. Youssef has continued to work across television, animation and stand-up comedy, building a career around character-driven stories that engage with difficult personal and cultural questions. Taking on writing, directing and acting duties in Martha & Muhammad marks a significant new step in his transition to feature filmmaking.
The film’s producing team includes Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein and Eli Bush through Central, alongside The Bear creator Christopher Storer and Tyson Bidner through American Light & Fixture. Youssef will also produce through Cairo Cowboy. The collaboration brings together filmmakers with experience in independent cinema and character-focused storytelling, with Youssef leading the project both in front of and behind the camera.
Seyfried has built a varied career spanning comedy, drama, musicals and television. She first gained widespread recognition through films such as Mean Girls and Mamma Mia! before earning further acclaim for portraying Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the limited series The Dropout. Her performance in the series won her a Primetime Emmy Award.
More recently, Seyfried has appeared in The Housemaid and Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee, continuing to move between mainstream productions and more distinctive projects. Her casting in Martha & Muhammad adds another comedy to her filmography, although it remains unclear how her character will fit into the story.
Stone brings an established screen presence to the project. Known for films including Basic Instinct and Casino, she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the latter. Her pairing with Youssef represents an unexpected collaboration, while Seyfried’s addition further expands the film’s cast.
With A24 financing the production and Youssef making his feature directorial debut, Martha & Muhammad is being developed as a comedy built around an unconventional relationship and the cultural tensions surrounding it. The film’s release date, Seyfried’s character and additional casting details have yet to be announced.
